Cohasset Tops Division VII Football Tournament Field
The MIAA Division VII football tournament opens Thursday with 16 teams, led by top seed Cohasset.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Football
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The MIAA Division VII football tournament begins Thursday with 16 teams across Massachusetts. Top seed Cohasset, the defending Division VII champion, opens the postseason after starting its season 0-2 before winning five straight games.
Why it matters
The bracket pits undefeated and high-scoring teams against one another in a single-elimination format where any loss ends a team's season. For Massachusetts high school football fans, the opening round sets the stage for a title race featuring several standout players.
Anthony Williams rushed for 1,651 yards and 16 touchdowns, while Gio Venable threw for 1,330 yards and 15 touchdowns this season. Nolan Soderbaum passed for nearly 1,000 yards and 16 touchdowns without an interception.
The players
Cohasset High School football
Cohasset is the top-seeded team and defending champion in the MIAA Division VII tournament, having rebounded from an 0-2 start.
St. Bernard's High School football
St. Bernard's enters the tournament with an 8-0 regular-season record and is among the field's most successful teams this season.
The details
Cohasset, the top seed and defending champion, started the season 0-2 before winning five consecutive games. Jacoby Spinola scored on a 40-yard reception, a 92-yard fumble recovery and a 72-yard punt return in a single game, and Gage Turner is considered one of the top linebackers in the state.
Timeline
Thursday: MIAA Division VII football tournament opening round begins.
Last month: Jacoby Spinola scored three touchdowns in a win over Upper Cape.
Season Trajectory
Cohasset's defense of its Division VII title follows its own prior championship run, and the team's 0-2 start followed by five straight wins shapes its seeding. The tournament's 16-team field and seeding now determine which programs carry momentum into the single-elimination bracket.
Fantasy managers tracking Anthony Williams, Gio Venable, and Nolan Soderbaum should watch the opening-round results, since each player's production drives postseason fantasy value. Bracket results will determine how long these featured players remain available for local viewing.
The takeaway
Track the bracket as it develops, since single-elimination play means a single loss ends a team's season and every opening-round game carries heavy stakes.
Further reading
Follow the full field in our Football coverage for more Massachusetts high school postseason news.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Masslive.
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